Reynolds is reported to have a net worth of $77 million. Now the footy crazies amongst you will know that you could get a mid-range, young and promising Premier League striker for that. Or a pretty decent goalkeeper or defender. Or one of Lionel Messi's toes. But not a top of the range club. transfermarkt.co.uk estimates Manchester United's first team squad (25 players) value as £720 million. The club itself: £4 billion.
Wrexham AFC is in the National League in England. That's not the Premier League, not the Championship, not League One, not League Two; the National League. What my friend Tony and my brother in arms Trevor would call the Fifth Division. The highest Wrexham has ever been was in 2003/4 when they were in League One (although it was called the Second Division at the time - keep up, Trevor and Tony!)
For context, the average attendance at National League matches in 2018/19 was just under 2,000. To be fair, Wrexham's is the second highest at just over 5,000. Stadium capacity is 15,500, although they don't own the stadium. The population of Wrexham is 136,000.
We are definitely not talking about a big club. So why would Reynolds and his actor pal Rob McElhenny want to buy Wrexham? Can you make money out of owning a football club? If you are the Glazers, owners of Manchester United, yes. Pretty much everyone else, no. Do you want to launder money? If you are the owners of .............................. (sorry, I don't want to end up in court), yes. In fact throwing money at a loss making entity is classic money laundering territory but there are such things as the "fit and proper owners" tests before anyone is allowed to take ownership of a professional football club. But we all know of clubs where that hasn't worked [please be careful when you comment on this, people; we could all end up in court].
Are you a sovereign nation looking to promote your country and overcome the stigma of a dodgy human rights record? If you are Manchester City, yes. Otherwise, no. Are you so rich that you don't know what to do with your money? If you are Chelsea, yes. Most others, no. Were you born in the club's town or region? Stockport County, yes. There was a famous businessman, Jack Walker, born in Blackburn, who bought Blackburn Rovers in 1991 when they were in the relegation zone of the Second Division, splashed the cash on stadium, facilities and players (notably Alan Shearer) and they won the Premier League in 1995.
These are all possible - if not reasonable or legitimate - reasons for owning a football club but Ryan Reynolds doesn't seem to qualify; he was born in Vancouver, Canada.
I play a classic computer game called Championship Manager and I get the greatest pleasure from taking over a lower league club and taking them all the way to the Champions League; it's a great feeling and if Reynolds simply wants to do that, good luck to him. He wants to put £2 million into the club which, in these times where spectators are not allowed (and therefore no income), might pay the running costs for a season with a bit to spare for some signings maybe. But I don't imagine a new owner (I hesitate to use the word investor because that implies the expectation of a return on investment) wants the money to be used on running costs. Usually they want to buy a striker! Maybe a 35 year old ex Premier League striker with dodgy knees on a one year contract to get us promotion. Readers of my "free agency" posts will know that Mario Balotelli is available.
The key to progression up the leagues is (a) ability to increase your wage bill (because wage bill has been identified as the key indicator of league position) and (b) ability to expand the stadium if you get promoted (which will probably result in higher attendances). It's not clear that the latter is possible, given the stadium is owned by Wrexham Glyndwr University and leased by the football club on a 99 year lease. And used by the Wales national team for some matches. Yes people, Wrexham is in Wales but the team plays in England.
Now there's an interesting thought: If Wrexham switched to the Welsh Premier league - the Cymru Premier - the champions of that league qualify for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Win a few qualifying games and end up playing at home to Barcelona.
I have read various articles speculating about Reynolds' reasons for this. None of them have a clue, basically, except for one quoting a Wrexham Supporters' Club director suggesting that the guys want to make a movie and were attracted by the fact that it is the "third oldest professional club in the world that plays in the oldest international stadium anywhere in the world". Maybe a superhero movie Deadfoot starring Mario Balotelli? In the Champions League.
Until proved otherwise I'm sticking to my Championship Manager thesis: he just wants to have fun and has a spare two mil sitting around. I look forward to further Wrexham news; if I find anything substantial, I'll share it with you. I bet you can't wait.
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